Effect of Empowerment Program on Parents' Self-Competence regarding Caring for their Children with Eye Injuries

Eye injury is referring to destruction caused by a direct blow to the eye and the surrounding area
including adjacent tissue and boney part. It also indicates to any injury to the eye which may be
caused by mechanical trauma, chemical agents, or radiation. The aim of the current study was to
evaluate the effect of empowerment program on parents' self-competence regarding caring for their
children with eye injury. Research design: A quasi-experimental research design (pre-, post- and 3
months after empowerment program) was used to conduct the current study. Settings: The study
was conducted in inpatient and outpatient departments at Specialized Ophthalmology Center
affiliated to Benha University Hospital and Ophthalmology Hospital affiliated to Ministry of Health
and population. Sample: a purposive sample of seventy-four parents accompanying their children
with eye injuries who attended the previously mentioned study settings. Tools of data collection:
Four tools were used for data collection; tool (1): A structured interviewing questionnaire sheet to
assess parents' knowledge about eye injuries. Tool (2): parents’ reported practice checklists to
assess parents’ reported practice regarding eye injuries. Tool (3): Parenting Sense of Competency
Scale to assess parents' level of competency regarding care of their children with eye injuries, and
tool (4): child medical data sheet. Results: Parents' knowledge, reported practice and self-
competence regarding eye injuries was unsatisfactory on pre-empowerment program, while there is
a significant statistical difference pre- and post-empowerment program implementation. Conclusion:
There is an improvement in parents' knowledge, reported practice and self-competence post-
empowerment program implementation regarding management of children with eye injuries.
Recommendation: Establishment of continuous education and training programs for caregivers
regarding management of children with eye injury to improve their sense of competency regarding
care of their children.